While the Cap Ann, this 283-meter-long factory ship, is heading for France, a new investigation by the NGOs Disclose and Greenpeace discredits this floating LNG terminal project, which should make it possible to store liquefied natural gas imported into France, from September 15. Firstly, the threat of shortage which was used as a pretext to carry out the project in record time would have been “largely fantasized”, according to NGOs. Secondly, TotalEnergies already anticipates no less than “15 feared loss of containment events [des fuites, NDLR] which could generate either thermal effects (flaming jet, slick or cloud fire), or overpressure effects (explosion)” and could cause “151 dangerous phenomena”, according to a note obtained by Disclose.
From the start of the war in Ukraine, on February 24, 2022, the CEO of TotalEnergies, Patrick Pouyanné, issued a warning: “We do not have enough liquefied natural gas terminals in Europe to replace Russian hydrocarbons”. Barely a month later, after intense lobbying, the LNG terminal project in Le Havre was unveiled by the government, as told by Disclose. The goal? Increase import capacities, even though liquefied natural gas is often derived from shale gas, the exploitation of which is nevertheless prohibited in France, as shown by the NGO in another survey.
A 14% drop in French gas consumption
However, the data compiled by Greenpeace and cross-checked by Disclose undermine this threat brandished by TotalEnergies. According to these NGOs, France would have “largely enough to meet its gas needs without having to install new infrastructures”, since “of the 64.8 billion cubic meters (bcm) of gas imported in 2022, 25% (16, 47 bcm) were sold to its European neighbours, according to figures from the European Network of Gas Transmission System Operators (ENTSOG). “.
Moreover, “over the first five months of 2023, the four French terminals were used at 66.7% of their capacity. At the same time, French gas consumption fell by 14% between August 1, 2022 and June 12, 2023 (excluding weather variations) compared to the same period 2018-2019. »
Three new projects under study
The need to “quickly secure the natural gas transit capacities to Germany, Belgium and Switzerland” put forward by the government is also questioned: “We do not dispute the principle of European solidarity, retorts Alice Béral, jurist to France Nature Environnement Normandie, but it is not intended to apply here since our neighbors are able to ensure their own supplies”. Germany, for example, has already commissioned three floating LNG terminals since December 2022 and is due to install three more by the end of the year. “, we read in the first part of the investigation.
All this does not prevent GRT Gaz to conduct opportunity studies for three new projects : “two land-based LNG terminals and a new floating terminal, which could be moored in the port of Antifer in Saint-Jouin-Bruneval (Seine-Maritime), 20 kilometers further north. A project of which the mayor of the village, François Auber (various left), was never informed, ”according to Disclose.
Leakage risks
THE second part of the investigation is devoted to the risks of leaks from the floating terminal. These are far from trivial, since methane has a warming power up to 25 times higher than CO2, even though it dissipates much faster in the atmosphere. On this subject, Disclose indeed reveals the content of the misnamed “public summary of the elements of the hazard study”, which the prefecture of Seine-Maritime has never made public. However, this administration would be in possession of a danger study “much more complete”, according to Disclose. But the NGO was unable to obtain a copy, despite its request.
In addition, if methane leaks are very common, during the operation of any terminal, the configuration chosen off Le Havre would be “unique in the world”, according to the NGOs. This could have “even more devastating” consequences. Because, if the Le Havre terminal “must be moved away due to a major accident, it will have to travel 8 kilometers along high-threshold Seveso sites, then the city center”, according to a former chemical engineer from the port area interviewed. as part of the investigation, who wished to remain anonymous.
A legal action examined on July 6
How is it that this project, deemed “anachronistic” by NGOs, is so poorly known to the general public? In fact, the government has chosen to consider the floating LNG terminal as a simple ship, subject to international maritime law, rather than a factory. If that had been the case, it would have had to follow the regulations for Installations classified for the protection of the environment (ICPE), subject to public inquiries lasting several months, as has been the case for the four other LNG terminals currently in service in France.
This “opacity” is denounced by France Nature Environnement Normandie, the NGO Ecology for Le Havre and EELV Normandie. According to information from Disclose, the administrative court of Rouen will examine, Thursday, July 6, a legal action filed by these associations. For them, the government should have submitted the future LNG terminal to ICPE regulations, with regard to European law.